BIG EMMY WIN FOR CANADA
Maslany takes lead actress trophy
Tatiana Maslany no longer is an Emmy orphan.
In her acceptance speech after winning an Emmy Award, Canada’s Maslany said, “I feel so lucky to be on a show that puts women at the centre.”
Orphan Black sure does that. And Maslany plays just about all of them.
When Maslany won the trophy for outstanding lead actress in a drama, it automatically made it a big night for all of Canada at the 68th-annual Emmy Awards, which were held Sunday in Los Angeles and televised live on ABC and CTV.
Maslany, a native of Regina, plays multiple clone characters on Orphan Black, which originates on Space in Canada (and also airs in the United States on BBC America).
Perhaps totally appropriate for such an innovative show, Maslany didn’t have a physical piece of paper with her to reference for her acceptance speech. Rather, her notes were on her phone.
Maslany described Orphan Black as a “dream job.” I should say so, given this news. Even more so now.
Maslany secured her first Emmy nomination just last year. Many thought she should have been nominated long before that, as Orphan Black debuted back in 2013.
But now, as far as I’m concerned, justice has been done.
It already has been announced that the fifth season of Orphan Black, scheduled to air in 2017, will be the last. Maybe time to rethink that, everyone!
Other winners in the major Emmy categories included: Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep, lead actress in a comedy; Jeffrey Tambor, Transparent, lead actor in a comedy; Veep, comedy series; Rami Malek, Mr. Robot, lead actor in a drama; Game of Thrones, drama series; and Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, variety talk series.
Emmys host Jimmy Kimmel had kicked off the proceedings by asking, “Are we ready to make the Emmys great again?”
Kimmel wondered aloud if Donald Trump would be running for president of the United States if it weren’t for television.
Then Kimmel identified the man in the audience who he believes is the most responsible: British reality-television guru Mark Burnett, who cast Trump to host The Apprentice and subsequently The Celebrity Apprentice, which increased Trump’s pop-culture status exponentially.
“Thank you Mark, you sneaky little crumpet muncher,” Kimmel said, as Burnett chuckled along. “If Trump builds that wall (between the United States and Mexico), the first person we’re throwing over it is Mark Burnett.”
The Emmys opened with a pretaped bit in which Kimmel was in danger of arriving late.
First Kimmel was in a white Bronco, being driven by Malcolm-Jamal Warner, who played A.C. Cowlings in The People vs. O.J. Simpson.
“Why are you calling me Juice?” Kimmel asked. Urging Warner to hurry, Kimmel added, “If I’m late, they’ll let Tom Bergeron host!”
Then Kimmel was picked up by Ty Burrell and the rest of the Dunphy clan from Modern Family.
Next up was James Corden, who forced Kimmel to sing Carpool Karaoke. The choice was Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go by Wham!
Kimmel tried to get into a limousine, but was rebuffed by LouisDreyfus and Tony Hale from Veep. Driving the limo, by the way, was Jeb Bush, who admitted he’s between jobs and needs the work.
Finally Kimmel got down on his knees and prayed to “Oh Heavenly Oprah.” Bingo, he was perched upon one of the dragons from Game of Thrones, riding high in the sky with Emilia Clarke.
Arriving live on stage, Kimmel pointed out that Sarah Paulson, nominated for playing Marcia Clark in The People vs. O.J. Simpson, actually brought along the real Marcia Clark to the Emmys.
“Everyone in Hollywood knows, if you want to win, sit next to Marcia Clark,” Kimmel said.
When Paulson did win for lead actress in a limited series, she thanked Clark directly. Paulson admitted that she had been “superficial and careless in my judgment” of Clark, the lead prosecutor in the Simpson murder trial. Paulson told Clark, “I am glad to be able to stand here today, in front of everyone, and tell you, I’m sorry.”
Other winners for The People vs. O.J. Simpson — which won for limited series — included Sterling K. Brown, who played prosecutor Christopher Darden, and Courtney B. Vance, who played defence attorney Johnnie Cochran. Kimmel wondered if the late Cochran “is somewhere smiling up at us tonight.” When the line received a mixed reaction, Kimmel asked, “Too soon?”